A system for modeling the pelvic anatomy of a person comprises an apparatus and method for using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a support and a sizing assembly. The support comprises a base and upstanding member. The sizing assembly is movable along the upstanding member to various heights. The sizing assembly includes a pubis stop arm with a pubis stop, and a pelvic seat arm. The pelvic seat arm supports a pair of opposed ischial seats. The pubis arm extends generally horizontally from the upstanding member. The pelvic seat arm has a horizontal ledge for receiving a patient's ischial tuberosity and an adjoining vertical wall for receiving a patient's medial aspect of the ischial ramus. The distance between the pubis stop and pelvic seats is adjustable, the distance between the pelvic seats is adjustable, and the relative angle between the vertical arms of the pelvic seat is adjustable to accommodate for different anatomies.
|
1. Apparatus suitable for modeling the pelvic anatomy of a person comprising:
(a) a sizing assembly comprising;
(i) a pubis stop arm having a pubis stop thereon; and
(ii) a pelvic seat arm supporting a pair of opposed ischial seats, the pelvic seat arm extending generally horizontally from the upstanding member and being below the pubis stop, each ischial seat having a horizontal ledge for receiving a person's ischial tuberosity and an adjoining vertical wall for receiving a person's medial aspect of the ischial ramus, wherein the distance between the pubis stop and the ischial seats is adjustable, the distance between the ischial seats is adjustable, and the relative angle between the vertical walls of the ischial seats is adjustable to accommodate different anatomies; and
(b) adjustment means for adjusting the vertical position of the sizing assembly to accommodate persons of different leg length.
4. Apparatus for modeling the pelvic anatomy of a person comprising:
(a) a support comprising a base and an upstanding member;
(b) a sizing assembly supported by the upstanding member and movable vertically to selected positions thereon to accommodate persons of different leg length, the sizing assembly comprising;
(i) a pubis stop arm having a pubis stop thereon; and
(ii) a pelvic seat arm supporting a pair of opposed ischial seats, the pelvic seat arm extending generally horizontally from the upstanding member and being below the pubis stop, each ischial seat having a horizontal ledge for receiving a person's ischial tuberosity and an adjoining vertical wall for receiving a person's medial aspect of the ischial ramus, wherein the distance between the pubis stop and the ischial seats is adjustable, the distance between the ischial seats is adjustable, and the relative angle between the vertical walls of the ischial seats is adjustable to accommodate different anatomies.
2. The apparatus of
3. The apparatus of
6. The apparatus of
7. The apparatus of
9. The apparatus of
11. The apparatus of
12. The apparatus of
14. The apparatus of
15. The apparatus of
16. The apparatus of
17. The apparatus of
18. The apparatus of
19. The apparatus of
20. A method for fitting a person for a transfemoral prosthesis comprising the steps of:
(a) selecting the apparatus of
(b) adjusting the position of the sizing assembly and the length of the pubis stop arm to position the pubis stop against the person's pubis; and
(c) positioning the pelvic seat against the person's ischium tuberosity and medial aspect of the ischium ramus.
21. A method for fitting a person for a transfemoral prosthesis comprising the steps of:
(a) selecting the apparatus of
(b) adjusting the position of the sizing assembly and the length of the pubis stop arm to position the pubis stop against the person's pubis; and
(c) positioning the pelvic seat against the person's ischium tuberosity and medial aspect of the ischium ramus.
22. The method of
23. The method of
24. The method of
|
Above knee amputees require a correctly constructed effective artificial prosthetic limb to be able to effectively walk. If the socket of the prosthesis is not properly configured lack of patient stability, inability to effectively walk, impingement and/or dislocation can occur. Discussions of prosthetic systems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,938,762, 6,002,859, 6,709,617, 6,944,518, Publication Nos. 2002/0043738, 2005/0245934, and 2005/0245936.
Current systems for designing prosthesis are generally unsatisfactory. For example, they concentrate only on the amputated limb, and do not consider the overall effect of the anatomy of the entire pelvic region on the stability of the prosthesis. It is well-known that the pelvic regions of males and females differ significantly, and many systems do not accommodate these differences. Moreover, when fitting the prosthesis, tissue surrounding the bone, and particular muscular tissue, interferes with measuring and fitting the prosthesis.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system for accurately fitting a transfemoral amputee with a prosthesis that accommodates the variations that occur in the pelvic region of patients, and that allows a practitioner to appropriately accommodate for the surrounding tissue.
The present invention provides a system that satisfies this need, yielding a stable, well-fitted, and comfortable prosthesis for above knee amputees.
The system includes an apparatus for modeling the pelvic anatomy of a person. The apparatus has a sizing assembly movable vertically to selected positions to accommodate persons of different leg length and adjustment means for adjusting the vertical position of the sizing assembly. The adjustment means can comprise an upstanding member that supports the sizing assembly where the sizing assembly is movable along the upstanding member. There can be a base supporting the upstanding member.
The sizing assembly comprises a pubis stop arm having a pubis stop thereon and a pelvic seat arm. The pelvic seat arm supports a pair of opposed ischial seats. The pelvic seat arm extends generally horizontally from the upstanding member and is below the pubis stop. Each ischial seat has a horizontal ledge for receiving a person's ischial tuberosity and an adjoining vertical wall for receiving a person's medial aspect of the ischial ramus. To accommodate different pelvic anatomies, the distance between the pubis stop and the ischial seats is adjustable, the distance between the ischial seats is adjustable, and the relative angle between the vertical walls of the ischial seat is adjustable. Thus the apparatus comprises means for adjusting the distance between the pubis stop and the ischial seats, means for adjusting the distance between the ischial seats, and means for adjusting the relative angle between the vertical walls of the ischial seat.
Preferably the apparatus has at least one handle so that a person missing a portion of a leg can support themselves. Preferably the upstanding member supports the handle.
Preferably the pelvic seat arm can pivot downwardly to be out of the way.
The pubis stop arm extends generally horizontally from the upstanding member and its length can be adjustable such as being made of two telescoping members, thus providing the means for adjusting the distance between the pubis stop and the ischial seats.
The means for adjusting the relative angle between the vertical walls of the ischial seat can be linkages mounted to pivot.
The system includes a method for fitting a patient for an above knee prosthetic. In the method, the vertical position of the sizing assembly and the length of the pubis stop arm are adjusted to position the pubis stop against the patient pubis, and the pelvic seat is positioned against the patient's ischial tuberosity and medial aspect of the ischial ramus. The pelvic seat can then be pivoted downwardly, and the patient's residual leg end is wrapped with a plaster bandage. The pelvic seat is then pivoted back into position to apply pressure to both the pubis stop and pelvic seat to ensure a proper impression.
Optionally, a thin plastic cover is placed on the ischial seat when the person is initially positioned to accommodate for the thickness of the plaster bandage. The cover is removed before the pelvic seat is rotated back into contact with the patient.
The system provides a plaster cast that can be used to mold a stable and comfortable prosthesis.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
With reference to the Figures, an apparatus 10 for modeling the pelvic anatomy 12 of a patient 14, also referred to herein as a person, comprises a sizing assembly 16 that does the actual modeling. The apparatus also includes adjustment means for adjusting the vertical position of a sizing assembly 16 to accommodate patients of different leg length. For this purpose there is provided an upstanding member 18 that is generally vertically oriented on which the sizing assembly 16 is supported. The upstanding member is maintained in its upright position by a base 19 comprised of four legs 20, each having a rubber foot 22 at a ground engaging end 23, and attached at the opposed end 24 to a collar 26 that is slidable up and down a bottom portion 28 of the upstanding member 18. Each leg 20 is held in an appropriately sized hole 30 in the collar 26. The supporting base 19 also includes an interlink 32 for each leg 20 that pivotably connects the respective leg 20 to the bottom portion 28 of the upstanding member 18 below the collar 26. When the upstanding member 18 is supported on the floor, the bottom 34 of the upstanding member 18 and the four rubber feet 22 are on the floor. For each ease in setup and transportation, the collar 26 can be raised in the direction of the arrow 36 shown in
Other support systems for the upstanding member 18 can be used. For example, the upstanding member 18 can be permanently mounted to a table of other piece of furniture, or be mounted on the ground in brackets, or inserted into hole in the floor. The particular support means for the upstanding member shows in the Figures has the advantages that it provides a strong and stable base for the upstanding member 18 and also is collapsible, allowing the apparatus to be easily transportable, such as in a golf club transport container.
In the version of the invention shown in the Figures, the upstanding member 18 is tubular, i.e., hollow inside, and has a horizontal cross-section that is generally annular in shape, i.e., the outside and inside peripheries are generally circular. However, the upstanding member can be solid, and can be any shape in cross-section, including rectangular, oval, and square.
The sizing assembly 16 comprises, as its main components, a sliding block 38, a mounting block 40, a pubis stop arm 42 having a pubis stop 44 at its distal end (the end distal from the upstanding member 18), and a pelvic seat arm 46 supporting a pair of opposed ischial seats 48. The sliding block 38 has a front face 50 and a vertically oriented opening 52 therethrough that is sized and shaped so the sliding block 38 can move up and down along an upper portion 54 of the upstanding member 18.
A variety of different structures can be used as a means for adjusting the vertical position of the sizing assembly 16. In the version of the invention shown in
The sliding block 38 also has a vertically oriented slot 74 for opening and closing by means of a clamping handle 78 at the end of a threaded tightening pin 79 for clamping the sizing assembly 16 securely in place once it is at the desired vertical position on the upstanding member 18. In a simpler version of the present invention, the rack and pinion system can be eliminated, and the adjustment means can be any mechanism for securing the sizing assembly at a desired position along the upstanding member 18, such as the clamping system by itself, a pin slidable into a hole through the sliding block for engaging one of a series of spaced apart holes along the length of the upstanding member 18, by having the sliding assembly 16 held in place by a clamp mechanism, or as mentioned above, by having the sizing assembly securely fixed to the elongated member and having the elongated member adjustable in length such as by have the elongated member made of multiple telescoping sections.
The mounting block 40 is secured to a front face 80 of the sliding block 38 by means of fasteners 82. The mounting block 40 is T-shaped in horizontal cross-section, as best shown in
The pubis stop 44 is disc shaped having a smooth forward surface 96 for patient comfort.
The pelvic seat arm 46 is pivotally mounted to the mounting block 40 on a body portion 98 of the mounting block 40. This is accomplished with a pair of support arms 100. A first end section 100a of each arm 100 is mounted to a laterally facing surface 104 of the mounting block 40 with the opposed second end portion 100b secured to the pelvic seat arm 46. Each arm 100 is secured to the pelvic seat arm so that the pelvic seat arm can pivot between a horizontally extending position shown in
The pelvic seat arm 42 is also securely mounted to the mounting block 40 by a mounting bracket 108 as shown in
The ischial seats 48 will now be described with regard to the orientation shown in
An important feature of the present invention is the adjustability of the sizing assembly 16 to accommodate the pelvic anatomy of different patients. For this purpose, the apparatus according to the present invention includes one or more of the following adjustments:
(1) the distance between the pubis stop 44 and the ischial seats 48;
(2) the distance between the ischial seats 48; and
(3) the relative angle between the vertical wall, i.e., the outward face 130 of each ischial seat 46.
Thus, as best shown in
The pelvic seat arm 46 has a pair of elongated slots 142 therein, one for each support rod 138, so the support rods can slide therein when not tightened. Each support rod 138 has a biasing spring 144 for biasing the ischial seats 48 apart.
The apparatus includes an additional pair of bottom link members 146, one for each seat. One end of each bottom link member 146 is pivotally secured to a downwardly facing surface 128a of the downwardly extending segment 128 with the other ends joined together on the bottom surface 46a of the pelvic seat arm 46.
The link system serves as means for adjusting the distance between the pelvic seats, and means for adjusting the relative angle between the vertical walls of the ischial seat.
An optional handle 202, best shown in
The apparatus 10 can be made of any materials that provide suitable structural rigidity. Preferably, most of the components are made of metal such as steel or aluminum. Preferably the pubis stop 44 and the collar 26 are made of polymeric material, such as nylon.
In use of an apparatus according to the present invention, the following steps can be performed, but not necessarily in this exact order to fit a person for a transfemoral prosthesis:
This produces a “negative” cast which is used for forming the prosthetic socket.
The apparatus and method of the present invention have significant advantages. In particular, they accommodate the anatomy of different patients. The apparatus insures definition in the casting process that is not possible by the human hand. In addition, the apparatus is easy to use, and easy to assemble and disassemble.
Although the present invention is described in considerable detail with regard to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, not all of the steps identified for use of the apparatus 10 need be performed for every patient. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the present invention should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
4425713, | Aug 25 1982 | Postureometer | |
4938762, | Dec 16 1987 | Mathys AG Bettlach | Reference system for implantation of condylar total knee prostheses |
5086779, | May 30 1990 | Trustees of Boston University | Back analysis system |
5141512, | Aug 28 1989 | Alignment of hip joint sockets in hip joint replacement | |
5976145, | Jun 01 1998 | DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc | Calcar milling guide and system |
6002859, | Feb 21 1997 | Carnegie Mellon University | Apparatus and method facilitating the implantation of artificial components in joints |
6565519, | Mar 21 2001 | Benesh Corporation | Machine and method for measuring skeletal misalignments in the human body |
6709617, | Aug 03 2000 | Physicians Against Land Mines | Prosthetic system |
6944518, | Sep 18 2003 | DEPUY PRODUCTS, INC | Customized prosthesis and method of designing and manufacturing a customized prosthesis by utilizing computed tomography data |
20020014017, | |||
20020043738, | |||
20020138022, | |||
20040107592, | |||
20050119564, | |||
20050245934, | |||
20050245936, | |||
20090209963, | |||
20090222015, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
May 16 2014 | REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed. |
Oct 05 2014 | EXP: Patent Expired for Failure to Pay Maintenance Fees. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Oct 05 2013 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Apr 05 2014 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Oct 05 2014 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Oct 05 2016 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Oct 05 2017 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Apr 05 2018 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Oct 05 2018 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Oct 05 2020 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Oct 05 2021 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Apr 05 2022 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Oct 05 2022 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Oct 05 2024 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |